Federal-PTI Talks: Naqvi says KP government backed out of counterterrorism commitments

The negotiations, held over two days, were intended to defuse tensions ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march towards Islamabad. The talks ended in deadlock over several issues, including access to jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and the scope of counterterrorism measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In a detailed post on X, Naqvi said the KP government had agreed to sign a written agreement and submit an implementation plan within 72 hours covering security and counterterrorism measures. He alleged that the provincial government withdrew its support for those commitments when the negotiations reached their final stage.

According to Naqvi, the proposed agreement included a review of the Police Act 2026 in light of the security situation and measures to keep police and security affairs free from political interference. He also said the KP government had agreed to prevent militant groups from operating freely or receiving safe havens in the province.

Naqvi said the provincial government had further agreed to condemn the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA) and other militant groups.

The interior minister also said the proposed agreement covered the federal policy on Afghan refugees, including the closure of refugee camps and repatriation. He said the KP government had agreed that dealings with the Afghan Taliban authorities would be conducted through the federal government rather than directly by the province.

Other proposed measures included adequate funding for the provincial police and counterterrorism operations, decisions concerning counterterrorism efforts in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas and merged districts, implementation of the National Action Plan and closer cooperation between the provincial government and armed forces.

Naqvi said the government wanted the KP authorities to take greater ownership of counterterrorism efforts and stressed that security issues should not be politicised while the province faced a serious security situation.

The talks had appeared close to a breakthrough before the final breakdown. A member of the negotiating committee had earlier said the government and opposition had agreed on about 95% of the issues and hoped to settle the remaining points overnight. However, the two sides ultimately failed to reach consensus.

PTI representatives said the main disagreements included access to Imran Khan, including a meeting with his personal doctors, as well as the handling of counterterrorism operations in KP. Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said differences remained over meetings with Khan and the province’s security situation.

PTI leader Salman Akram Raja also said the two sides had failed to agree on the basic issues under discussion. The opposition maintained that counterterrorism policy should be formulated with consultation from the KP government rather than imposed unilaterally.

KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi subsequently announced that PTI would proceed with its long march towards Islamabad. The first phase began from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat on Sunday, with Afridi leading the procession. Convoys from several southern KP districts were also expected to join the march.

Afridi separately released a seven-point list of demands presented by PTI during the negotiations. He said the demands were neither unconstitutional nor illegal and called for political dialogue, meetings between the prime minister and opposition leaders, and a joint committee involving the government, PPP and opposition parties.

On prisoners’ rights, Afridi called for Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to receive legal, humanitarian and medical rights under applicable law and prison rules. He also sought access for family members, lawyers and authorised associates, as well as faster resolution of cases involving women, elderly and sick prisoners.

He said PTI would withdraw the long march if the federal government provided written assurances on its demands.

Naqvi rejected that account, saying the KP chief minister’s draft was circulated around midnight and amounted to an attempt to derail a separate draft that the negotiating teams had already worked on. He maintained that the federal government could not compromise on counterterrorism measures.

The breakdown has left the federal government and PTI at an impasse, with the opposition moving ahead with its Islamabad march while the government insists that counterterrorism commitments cannot be treated as part of political bargaining. PTI supporters began the march from Lakki Marwat on Sunday, while the government has warned that security and legal restrictions around the capital will be enforced.